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23andMe Data Breach: What You Need to Know
23andMe has officially confirmed the extent of its recent data breach, and the implications are concerning. According to TechCrunch, a total of 6.9 million users of the genetic testing site have been affected by this breach. While initially only 0.1 percent of customers (14,000 users) had their information accessed by hackers, this allowed the same group to compromise the profile information of millions of other users through the DNA Relatives feature.
Impact of the Breach
For the 5.5 million users whose information was stolen, data such as their name, birth year, relationship details, ancestry reports, self-reported location, and DNA percentage shared with family members were compromised. Additionally, 1.4 million users had information related to their Family Tree accessed, including names, birth years, relationships, and self-reported locations. With over 14 million customers, nearly half of 23andMe’s user base has been affected by this breach.
In response to the breach, 23andMe has initiated measures to notify affected customers and enhance data protection protocols. This includes mandatory password resets for all existing customers and the implementation of two-step verification for both new and existing users. The company is committed to investing in safeguarding its systems and data to prevent future breaches.
Topics
Cybersecurity
